PC review: The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (also includes Nightlife and Celebration Stuff)

Electronic Arts have released “The Sims 2: Double Deluxe“, where for the first time ever, you get The Sims 2, The Sims 2: Nightlife Expansion Pack, The Sims 2: Celebration Stuff Pack, and a bonus DVD with tips, tricks and gameplay strategies in one great collection!

The Sims 2 has by now sold over 13 million units worldwide. The addictive nature of the strategic life simulation games has propelled The Sims 1 & 2 series to sell over 100 million units worldwide, making it the best-selling computer game series ever!

System: PC
Genre: Life simulator
Release dates: April 15th 2008 (USA), April 17th 2008 (EURO)
Players: 1
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Origin: America
Rating: T for Teen with some Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence

The Sims 2: Double Deluxe screenshot

Enjoy all the fun and creativity of The Sims 2 in The Sims 2: Double Deluxe. Create your own houses, neighborhoods, Sims, and family dynasties… then watch it all come to life! Will your Sims experience the rewards of a life well lived? Or will you choose to neglect their needs, indulge their fears, and see what happens? As your Sims’ family grows, you’ll see them pass on genes from one generation to the next.

The Sims 2 is the first entirely-new generation of The Sims, the ground-breaking game that allowed players to create and control people. The Sims 2 challenges you to direct the journey of your Sims’ lives as they grow from infancy through childhood, teenage life and adulthood. Starting with a personality that you give them (or that they inherit from their parents), your Sims will develop in unique ways based on your choices and influence. As they progress through life, your Sims will collect memories which shape who they are, what options they have and how they behave. These experiences can have a short or long-term effect on relationships between family members and friends. Experiences between Sims when they are children can affect their relationships as teens and adults. Your Sims can have casual friendships or make life-long enemies.

The Sims 2: Double Deluxe also contains The Sims 2: Nightlife Expansion Pack, The Sims 2: Celebration Stuff Pack and a bonus DVD. Take your Sims downtown in their new cars to all the after-dark hot spots! Whether they’re dancing ‘til dawn on a guys’ night out, romancing that special someone by candlelight, or throwing strikes at the bowling alley, it will be a night to remember. Then host the social event of the season with The Sims 2: Celebration Stuff Pack. Host an elegant wedding, decorate their house and garden to throw the ultimate fiesta, or throw the biggest birthday bash with all-new items including birthday cakes, party balloons, and more.

The Sims 2: Nightlife takes Sims into the night to explore all of their favorite after-dark activities. Players can either head out and discover their love lives or have a crazy night out with friends. With the new dating gameplay, players will see if their Sims have chemistry with others which will determine their romantic fate. The newest addition to the game includes the brand new pleasure seeker aspiration allowing players to explore a life filled with unforgettable dates, endless nights of dancing and fine dining. Make your Sims nightlife fantasy a reality with over 125 new objects including a DJ booth, poker table and all you need to design the ultimate nightclub and VIP lounge.

With The Sims 2: Celebration Stuff, your Sims can now celebrate in style with this fun collection of furniture, party fashions, and décor items. Host an elegant wedding with dazzling gowns, swanky tuxedos, and breathtaking dresses for the entire bridal party. Make every moment magical for your Sims with fabulous centerpieces and even a floral wedding arch. Decorate their house and garden to throw the ultimate fiesta and serve hot meals straight off the new grill. Invite the neighbors over for an evening event and set the table with linens and tea lights to create the perfect ambiance. Or throw the ultimate birthday bash with all-new items including birthday cakes, party balloons, and more. Host the social event of the season and celebrate with your Sims.
So what are The Sims 2: Double Deluxe’s main features?

* Classic The Sims 2 Gameplay: Create unique Sims with personalities and life goals. Fulfill their dreams and build their ultimate home as you design their world.

* The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack: Send your Sims on an epic night out. Hit the downtown hot spots, play the dating game with your Sims, and live the Pleasure Life Aspiration.

* The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff Pack: Host the social event of the season. Must-have stuff to throw the ultimate weddings, birthday parties, and fiestas for your Sims.

* Bonus DVD: Now you have even more ways to enjoy your Sims experience and unleash your creativity!
– Get expert tips and tricks from the Bonus 101 Video.
– The game’s designers share their best tricks and strategies.
– Learn how to create Sims and build and design their homes.

The Sims 2: Double Deluxe minimum system requirements are:
If you have a T&L capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM then you need at least:
- 1 GHz processor or better
- 256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000
- At least 5 GB of hard drive space
If you have a non-T&L capable video card (an Intel Extreme Graphics or a Radeon 7000/VE Series) then you need at least:
- 2.4 GHz processor or better
- 256 MB RAM if Windows Vista, XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows 2000
- At least 5 GB of hard drive space

In conclusion lets ask the question: How much fun is The Sims 2: Double Deluxe?

FUN FACTOR - 9.0
If you loved the Sims (2000), you’ll love this collection. It includes The Sims 2 (2004), The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack (2005), The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff Pack (2007), plus a bonus DVD. Create your own Sims, homes, and family dynasties — then help your Sims experience the rewards of a life well lived or neglect their needs, indulge their fears, and see what happens. As your Sims’ family grows, you’ll even see them pass on genes from one generation to the next. With The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack, take your Sims downtown in their own cars for an unforgettable night of dancing ’til dawn, romancing that special someone, and much more. Then host the social event of the season with The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff Pack. Throw an elegant wedding, the ultimate fiesta, the biggest birthday bash, whatever your Sims want to celebrate.

It’s the perfect combination of casual, relaxing and addictive gameplay as you build and take control of your very own Sim world. The Sims 2: Double Deluxe comes highly recommended since it’s a budget game collection, and anyone with a PC and a creative mind is in for many hours of fun entertainment.

Graphics - 8.0
Menus and animations look sharp. What Sims textures and game world visuals are lacking, is made up for with great character animations that bring loads of personality to the game and that’s what ultimately draws you in.

Audio - 8.0
All Sims communicate in a language known as Simlish, first introduced in the original The Sims game. Simlish is a mix of fractured Ukrainian and Tagalog that communicates a Sim’s emotions or reactions using tones of voice. It’s all very expressive, although there’s a limit to the conversation options you have. The environmental sounds are cheerful and often funny. The music fits the theme of the game very well, although after a while you might find yourself turning on your own music to mix things up.

Ingenuity - 9.0
The Sims 2 point-and-click controls work great to build things and navigate the menus and Sim world. The concept of The Sims 2 is that you are free to control The Sims as they interact with their virtual surroundings, engage in various mundane and extreme activities and form relationships in a manner simulated to be like real-life. The Sims 2 doesn’t have a defined final goal, meaning the gameplay is open-ended. However, the game does have life goals, wants and fears, the fulfillment of which can produce both positive and negative outcomes, so always keep an eye on the diamond (AKA plumbbob) above your Sim’s head.

All Sims age and can live up to eighty-five Sim days depending on the degree of which their aspirations are fulfilled. The great thing about The Sims 2 is that you can strategically help your Sims accomplish their goals without much micromanagement, meaning they’ll take bathroom breaks and such on their own. The many choices you can make for your Sims will land you in both disturbing and/or hilarious situations. It’s a trip alright!

Replay Value - 9.5
There’s lots to do in this single player game, entire lives to live in an open-ended game with some goals. It’s a very varied experience. Everything about the gameplay is polished to be entertaining for the masses; as a result almost anyone who starts playing will be addicted for months. There’s near-endless replayablity in this package, but if you want more, there’s over 10 more expansions packs to choose from. Or you can wait for the next generation The Sims 3 to be released in 2009.